K-Drama Review: Welcome to Waikiki

Meghna Sharma, Panchkula, Haryana

Are you having a bad day or a bad mood? Well, as the experts say, gwenchana gwenchana (it’s okay); I got your back! This drama is going to make you snap out of it and you will be as pleased as a punch!

Plot

‘Welcome to Waikiki’ is a 20-episode, 2018, romantic-comedy (more on the comedy side) drama revolving around three friends bounded by years of friendship starring Kim Jung-hyun as Dong-goo, Lee Yi-kyung as Joon-ki, and Son Seung-won as Bong Doo-shik. All three run a failing guesthouse named ‘Waikiki’ in Itaewon where foreigners come to stay. Experiencing a downfall in the business, they try their best in every possible way to keep the guest house running and struggle in their respective fields in order to make ends meet with one dream, to finance their own film project. Their crazy journey is hilarious and will make you grin from ear to ear!

Cast

Let’s dive into the cast. Dong-goo is an unfortunate person who wants to become a movie director one day but works as a photographer and gets his heart broken by his girlfriend Soo-ah (Lee Joo-woo). Dong-goo lives with his sister Kang Seo-jin (Ko Won-hae) who wants to be a journalist and struggles with her facial hair that she has to shave twice a day.

Lee Joon-ki’s character is the son of a famous actor who wants to build his own career without his father’s fame and support but is always stuck in minor roles. Doo-shik is a freelancer writer who writes fantasy novels online and wants to become a great script writer.

Why You Should Watch?

Their lives take a turn when the 3 boys find an abandoned baby named ‘Sol’ in their guest house. They think about abandoning the baby by filing a police complaint and handing over the baby to find the owner, but their soft hearts couldn’t bear to leave the baby on its own. One day, the baby goes missing and they try to run after the thief who was trying to steal the baby, who turns out to be the baby’s mother!

The sudden appearance of the baby’s single mother in their guesthouse and her trying to fit in with the members of the guesthouse, especially with Dong-goo, is so much fun to watch. From the comedy of characters to extreme levels of cuteness fulfilled by Sol to the romance of three couples to the jealousy between two men behind the same woman; every episode ending generates a curiosity to move on to another episode and traps you within the vicious circle of laughter. The director did a great job putting together an ensemble cast that are all funny and unique on their own. Every character has their own screen timing and is portrayed so beautifully!

Why I loved this K-drama?

Something that I love about this drama is its refreshing cast and series of events happening in their lives. Honestly, I haven’t laughed this much while watching a drama. It is a perfect blend of comedy, romance, emotions and what not to keep you glued. The character that I loved the most amongst all is Lee Joon-ki. He tries every audition with utmost passion and sincerity and that audition somehow turns so funny and he struggles to manage his position every time. The immense love for his favorite red car named “Rebecca”, which is all worn out, is out of the way. His versatile acting deserves appreciation. And how can I not talk about the cutest character; Baby Sol? Baby Sol is too adorable and I am sure everyone would have had fun on set while shooting with her. Her appearance brightens up the mood. Once you start watching this crazy drama, you can’t help yourself binge-watching it. If you need something to cheer you up, you definitely need to give this drama a try. Will they be able to fulfill their dream or not? Will they be able to find baby Sol’s father? Well, you need to grab a cup of coffee, curl up on the sofa, and dive in the Waikiki Adventure. Let’s go!

What do you like the most about this drama? Who is your favorite character? Let us know in the comment section below!